using suspending plugs..

[apz245]

just started using these lures the right way.. and actually giving them time to suspend rather than just twitching them and reeling in.. I noticed though they don't really have neutral buoyancy.. they tend to sink.. just slowly.. is this because of the wire leader I was using?

 

[FishingNoob]

just started using these lures the right way.. and actually giving them time to suspend rather than just twitching them and reeling in.. I noticed though they don't really have neutral buoyancy.. they tend to sink.. just slowly.. is this because of the wire leader I was using?

Hmmmm, I use suspended jerkbaits alot for opener bass and spring pike and it suspends just fine. Did you change the hooks on it?? It might be from the leader.

 

[CanadianAngler87]

Hmmmm, I use suspended jerkbaits alot for opener bass and spring pike and it suspends just fine. Did you change the hooks on it?? It might be from the leader.

I use suspending jerks alot aswell. I rarely use a leader as im usualy using them for Walleye, but I find I have the opposite problem with the bait raising up and eventualy floating to the top if I let it. I also dont use a Snap swivle and attache my lure direct to the line.

 

[AnglerAnonymous]

What line you using Canadian? Mono floats and that's enough to cause it to rise

 

[AnglerAnonymous]

Also I forgot to ad braid floats

 

[CanadianAngler87]

What line you using Canadian? Mono floats and that's enough to cause it to rise

Mono, thanks man never put two and two together. Makes sense, though I never would have thought my line would displace enough water to make a semi-weighted bait rise. Thanks again.

 

[FishingNoob]

Also I forgot to add braid floats

Hey AA,

If mono floats, braid floats and fluoro sinks, what line is best??

 

[apz245]

Hmmmm, I use suspended jerkbaits alot for opener bass and spring pike and it suspends just fine. Did you change the hooks on it?? It might be from the leader.

didn't change the hooks.. I was using fairly heavy 30lb braided line tied to a 6 inch wire leader, I think it was the leader too

 

[AnglerAnonymous]

No problem Canadian, It def can make the difference. Ive seen it first hand when experimenting.

FishingNoob- This depends on a few things, you can really fine tune your bait depending on line and how you want it to react. Typically when throwing jerkbaits like rogues, lucky crafts, and megabass I like to use fluoro to get me that extra depth, I can make extra long casts and still have good hook ups bc of the low stretch.

Using braid or fluoro requires you to have that softer rod tip for jerkbaits or youll lose a lot of fish. When I first started throwing these baits I was using a MH fast rod using braid, the action was great as the braid would really get that bait moving, but when I hooked up with them Id often lose the fish. Switching to a softer rod helped me play the fish better and maintain a good hookup.

If youre using a real stiff rod then I like mono to help absorb some of the impact and keep them on.

 

[rich_ace_G]

I could be wrong but from what I understand, suspending plugs will sink...but slower. i'm using 10lb mono, no leader and suspending plug still sink if you pause for quite a while. The plug I use seems to have the weight close to the body so the tail kinda points up as the suspending plug sinks slowly to the bottom kinda looking like a minnow foraging for food.

 

[apz245]

I could be wrong but from what I understand, suspending plugs will sink...but slower. i'm using 10lb mono, no leader and suspending plug still sink if you pause for quite a while. The plug I use seems to have the weight close to the body so the tail kinda points up as the suspending plug sinks slowly to the bottom kinda looking like a minnow foraging for food.

I think you're right..seemed like they sink to me, next time I will try just tying the lure straight on to the line and see if it suspends or slinks slowly, I still think it'll be sinking.. just slower without the leader

 

[AnglerAnonymous]

Suspending jerkbaits do exactly that, they suspend, floating jerkbaits float

 

[apz245]

mine were sinking, I swear!

head first.. just like ace described so it must have been the leader..

 

[apz245]

went and fished the mouth of the humber today for a couple of hours, tied on my husky jerk without a leader and it suspended fine, it was the leader weighing it down

 

[chalkhorse]

mine were sinking, I swear!

head first.. just like ace described so it must have been the leader..

my crankbait versions slightly float... ass first..., but stay autobuoyant with a swivel, (which it PAINS me to use...)

 

[inthecover]

I fish a suspending jerk for bass so i dont use a leader. I found that that bait can NOT sink OR float it needs to stay suspending, NO movment at all. The problem is that most jerk baits out of the box do not do this so you need to maybe change the hooks or even to stop it from floating up put a second split ring on the front split ring just to give it that wheight.
Now fishing pike i found that i have a better day if i bring that concept, having that bait DEAD STILL. To do that i NEVER use a Leader...........Some people call me crazy, and yes most pike in the lake i fish are mid-range to those BIG aligators but still i dont care about loosing jerk baits to have a full day of catching those fun filled pike.

"Get that bait to not move//trust your get in the groove"

 

[rich_ace_G]

I fish a suspending jerk for bass so i dont use a leader. I found that that bait can NOT sink OR float it needs to stay suspending, NO movment at all. The problem is that most jerk baits out of the box do not do this so you need to maybe change the hooks or even to stop it from floating up put a second split ring on the front split ring just to give it that wheight.
Now fishing pike i found that i have a better day if i bring that concept, having that bait DEAD STILL. To do that i NEVER use a Leader...........Some people call me crazy, and yes most pike in the lake i fish are mid-range to those BIG aligators but still i dont care about loosing jerk baits to have a full day of catching those fun filled pike.

"Get that bait to not move//trust your get in the groove"

+1. I hate using leaders...when I first started going for pike. I was too afraid to lose my lures...but then again i was using Raps all the time which is on the higher price. Soon found out there are other great lure alternatives which costs less than half of the raps. I find leaders have some effect on the movement of the lures. suspended plugs out of the box will sink slowly. but most of them won't reach bottom after 20 secs. just enough for you to give a slight jerk to work them up. Anything that resembles food...pike will hit 'em but if your lure moves like a minnow on steroids...those pikes might have 2nd thoughts...

 

[chalkhorse]

if i'm going for bigger pike, i tend to barrel knot about six inches of braided like to my mono... saves a lot of lures, but impedes my action a lot less... i don't even like snaps, as you can control your lure action on a rap by where you have the clinch knot on the eye...

 

[chalkhorse]

if i'm going for bigger pike, i tend to barrel knot about six inches of braided like to my mono... saves a lot of lures, but impedes my action a lot less... i don't even like snaps, as you can control your lure action on a rap by where you have the clinch knot on the eye...

ooops. braided "line" sorry

 

[apz245]

so clearly the suspending plugs dont like intended work with wire leaders..
there are lighter duty micro leaders or something available, maybe these work better.

i'm considering trying fluorocarbon (60+lb) as leader as this seems to be pretty standard for pike.. im thinking that a 12-18" long piece of fluoro with a swivel and interlock might be just as heavy as a small wire leader though.. so it might be best to just tie the lure straight on to my braid.. although I really don't like the idea of that when targeting pike.